What Acato does

Acato BV is a Den Haag-based Dutch digital agency founded in 2000 that designs, develops, and manages accessible web platforms for Dutch municipalities and select enterprise clients. Its core offering spans digital strategy, UX design, full-stack WordPress-based development, digital accessibility consulting (WCAG 2.2 AA), and ongoing managed services under SLAs. The technology stack is built on WordPress CMS integrated with the open-source NL Design System and Open Webconcept components, enabling reusable, multi-site deployments that comply with Dutch government standards such as Common Ground. A flagship product is the Woo Portaal — a modular transparency portal that helps municipalities comply with the Wet open overheid (Woo) — comprising a WordPress-based Woo Basisversie plus an optional Automatische Publicatieoplossing gateway that automates publication from case and council information systems via OpenWOO.app. Acato has held ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications since January 2024 and operates from offices in Den Haag (HQ), Didam, and Utrecht.

The company's business model combines project-based professional services (fixed-fee or time-and-materials bespoke builds such as denhaag.nl and the Atlas Copco Smartlink IoT dashboard) with recurring managed services (server, SSL, CMS, plugin, and database maintenance). Pricing is quote-driven and contract-based, typically on multi-year engagements intended to support the 10+ year lifespan of public-sector websites. Distribution is direct enterprise sales via in-house business developers engaging municipalities, semi-government organizations, and corporate accounts through consultative selling and tender participation. The customer base skews toward Dutch public sector — with named clients including Gemeente Den Haag, Gemeente Tilburg, Gemeente Stichtse Vecht, Gemeente Buren, GGD Gelderland-Zuid, and De Dienst Noardwest Fryslân — alongside corporate clients such as Atlas Copco and De Buurtboer. Acato is privately held by founder/owner Valentijn de Jong, made one disclosed acquisition (internet bureau Clearsite in January 2022), and has no disclosed external institutional funding.

Name

Acato

Legal name

Acato BV

Website

https://acato.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Acato is a Den Haag-based Dutch digital agency that designs, develops, and manages accessible WordPress-based websites, Woo compliance portals, and managed services primarily for Dutch municipalities and select enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Web Development and Digital Agency Services

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Advertising Agencies (541810)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Governance, Compliance, Retention & eDiscovery (HDAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Government web development
• Digital accessibility services
• Municipal website design
• UX design consulting
• Woo transparency portal

Headquarters

HQ city

Den Haag

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Web Development & Design Projects: Project-based professional services for designing and developing websites, web applications, and portals. Includes UX design, development, and digital accessibility implementation. Fixed fee or time-and-materials billing.
2. Managed Services & Support: Ongoing technical management and support services including server maintenance, SSL certificates, database management, updates, plugin security, and performance monitoring. Typically billed through SLA agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Acato is a Dutch digital agency that designs, develops, and maintains accessible websites, web applications, and portals for government and enterprise clients. Their core offering spans the full digital product lifecycle — from strategy and UX design through development and ongoing managed services — with specialized expertise in WCAG-compliant accessible web solutions and the Woo Portaal platform for Dutch government transparency compliance.

Product overview

Acato is a Dutch digital agency offering a comprehensive suite of digital services rather than a single software product. The core offering combines strategic consulting, UX design, website/web application development, and ongoing management services. Key specialized offerings include: Woo Portaal (a modular transparency portal for municipalities to comply with the Wet open overheid), available as a WordPress-based Woo Basisversie with optional Automatische Publicatieoplossing gateway; Digitale Toegankelijkheid services for accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1); and dedicated services for government websites built on Common Ground principles and NL Design System. The company also provides management & service (Beheer & Service) for ongoing technical support. Projects are delivered using open-source technologies including WordPress, Open Webconcept, and NL Design System components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Website Development Services Custom website and web application development services for government and corporate clients, building accessible, high-performance digital products using modern open-source technologies and frameworks.
• UX Design Services User experience design services including user research, prototyping, usability testing with real users, and creation of accessible and intuitive digital interfaces.
• Digitale Toegankelijkheid (Digital Accessibility) Services Digital accessibility consulting and implementation services helping government and corporate organizations meet WCAG 2.1 A and AA criteria, including accessibility audits, usability testing, training, and advisory services.
• Beheer & Service (Management & Service) Ongoing technical management and support services including server maintenance, SSL certificate management, database management, CMS updates, plugin security, and performance monitoring, typically delivered under SLA agreements.
• Digitale Strategie (Digital Strategy) Strategic consulting services to help clients identify digital opportunities, analyze business context, define strategic themes, and create actionable plans for digital transformation.
• Website voor Gemeente en Overheid (Municipal and Government Websites) Specialized website development services for municipalities and government organizations, built on Common Ground principles and NL Design System for accessibility and interoperability with Dutch government standards.
• Woo Portaal A comprehensive platform for municipal information disclosure under the Dutch Wet open overheid (Public Access to Government Information Act). Offers automatic publication solutions, integrations with council information systems via OpenWOO.app, and customizable branding for government transparency requirements.
• Woo Basisversie WordPress-based open-source foundation for Woo Portaal implementation, providing a solid and flexible starting point for municipalities to publish information in compliance with the Wet open overheid.
• Automatische Publicatieoplossing (Automatic Publication Solution) Automated publication gateway for Woo Portaal that collects data from various systems (case systems and council information systems) via OpenWOO.app integration, streamlining the government information disclosure process.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35% of Dutch population better served by accessible websites
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ConductioncoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic collaboration for OpenWOO.app development. Conduction provides the gateway technology for automated data collection from various systems (zaaksystemen, raadsinformatiesystemen) used in the WooPortaal solution.
• ICT GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Atlas Copco Smartlink IoT platform project. ICT Group collaborated with Acato on the design and development of the industrial IoT dashboard.
• The A11Y CollectiveminorOthersTraining provider for accessibility courses. Acato staff completed accessibility courses through The A11Y Collective to build internal expertise.
• Common Ground InitiativecoreOthersActive participant in the Common Ground movement for Dutch government digital transformation. Principles guide their approach to data management and system architecture for government clients.
• NL Design System (NLDS)coreTechnology or IntegrationActive contributor to the Netherlands Design System for government websites and applications. Uses NLDS components in client projects and contributes back to the open-source component library.
• Open WebconceptcoreTechnology or IntegrationActive participant in Open Webconcept initiative for reusable open-source components for Dutch government websites. Integrates Open Webconcept data layer into WordPress-based solutions.
• OpenWOO.app CommunityminorOthersCommunity of municipalities and vendors working on Woo portal solutions. Knowledge sharing and open-source development for transparency portals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Luminis: Larger Netherlands-headquartered technology consultancy with broader enterprise and public-sector offerings. Comparable as a Dutch digital services peer but with a much wider scope beyond web development.
• Mirabeau (a Codit company): Large Dutch digital agency within the Codit/Integration Partners group, serving enterprise and government clients with digital strategy, design, and development. Comparable in Dutch digital agency DNA but at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Springlab: Smaller Dutch digital agency focused on civic-tech and accessibility work for municipalities and NGOs; comparable niche focus but at smaller scale than Acato.

Others

• SITA: Global IT services specialist focused on the air transport industry; included as adjacent ecosystem reference rather than direct competitor. Mentioned to note the broader universe of vertical-specialized IT services firms operating with deep domain expertise.

Direct peers

• Incentro: Dutch-headquartered digital consultancy with a strong public-sector and accessibility practice across the Benelux. Comparable in size, scope, and cross-vertical government-corporate mix.
• Rovalaints: Dutch digital agency (Level Level) providing custom web development, UX design, and managed WordPress services to enterprise and government clients in the Netherlands - a tight functional peer to Acato on service mix.
• Conclusion: Large Dutch digital transformation and IT services group with deep public-sector practice; Acato already partners with Conduction (a Conclusion entity) on the Woo Portaal gateway. Comparable in government-sector digital delivery and in Netherlands-based CMS/open-source work.
• Finalist: Dutch digital agency group serving government, healthcare, and enterprise clients with web development and managed services. Directly comparable to Acato as a Netherlands-headquartered multi-vertical digital services firm.
• Iquality: Dutch digital agency headquartered in Eindhoven focused on CMS, e-commerce, and digital experience work for mid-market and enterprise clients. Closely comparable to Acato as a Netherlands-based digital agency delivering custom web platforms and managed services.
• Open Circle: Dutch digital agency specializing in government and public-sector digital products, with active participation in the Common Ground/NL Design System ecosystem. Highly comparable in vertical, technology stack, and customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInnl.linkedin.com/company/acato
• Instagraminstagram.com/acato_nl
• Xx.com/acato
• Facebookfacebook.com/AcatoNL

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Acato